In the Profession of Pets
By Jenna Ringelheim
Stan, with all her Ruffwear dog gear.
Pets have a lot to offer to their human counterparts— comic relief, a reason to exercise, unconditional love, and companionship, just to name a few. Yet some individuals are taking their connection to animals to a whole new level by making pets a profession. Trainers, pet clothing and gear outfitters, house sitters, writers and artists are beginning to look to their animals for inspiration and an income.
This month at Fetch, we will be exploring the topic "In the Profession of Pets."
First up is Britt Johnston, graphic designer extraordinaire. Britt has a myriad of clients, one of which is pet gear powerhouse, Ruffwear.
An interview with Britt Johnston of Nimbus Creative Group
www.nimbuscreativegroup.com
What originally brought you to Sun Valley?
I grew up coming to the Valley. My Dad started skiing here in the 1950s, fell in love, bought a place, and then brought us here every year. When I turned 18, he said, “Why don’t you go be a ski bum in Sun Valley?” So here I am.
I noticed Typographics when they were located in Ketchum in the industrial district and was interested and I researched graphic design. I went to the University of Washington and got my degree in graphic design, then moved back here and have been designing ever since.
Tell us about Ruffwear, and how you first get connected with them?
Ruffwear is a great dog gear company based in Bend, Oregon. Their primary goal has always been to build performance products that enhance and inspire outdoor adventures for dogs and their human companions. While on a yurt trip in British Columbia with some buddies, I met a couple on the trip that was good friends with Patrick Kruse, the founder of Ruffwear. They said he was looking for a new graphic designer to overhaul their look.
Over the past seven years, you have helped Ruffwear completely re-brand their company image. What was your approach to do this?
It was really a group effort—working closely with the two owners Patrick and Will and a myriad of marketing people to streamline the look. The goal was to make it playful, yet clean and approachable.
Tell us a little bit about your pets, and where you like to play in Sun Valley?
My dogs...well, I have Cosmo, a Scotty-German Sheppard mix who is without a doubt the strangest, yet cutest, little big man you have ever seen. He looks like a German Sheppard with a Scotty beard and legs.
And then there is Stan; she is a mutt of all mutts. I saw her on Petfinder.com at the Elko, NV shelter, with her crazy multi-colored longhaired muzzle. I fell in love with her. I called to find out what they thought of her, thinking I could stop in on our way to California, and they said she was a wonderful dog, but they had to put her down the next day. They only keep dogs for one week. So, I asked what time they closed, got in the car, and drove eight hours to get a dog I had never met. My husband thought I was NUTS. But now, she is the queen of the house.
I try to take my dogs everywhere, skate skiing on all the BCRD doggy trails and lots of hiking in the summer. The only time they are left at home is when we go mountain biking. We feel pretty lucky to live in such an active, small, beautiful and safe community.
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